India may boast a better overall record in tournament matches against Pakistan going into the Champions Trophy final on Sunday, but a lesser known fact is that Pakistan has a better track record of defeating their arch rivals when it comes to tournament finals. While it is true that this is only the 2nd ICC competition final the two have taken part in together (2007 World T20 being the first), there have been 8 other finals of different types and denominations that have been played between the two cricket-crazy nations. In these 9 intense contests, Pakistan has come out on top 6 times with India claiming the remaining 3.
As Pakistan look towards continuing the winning trend and taking the record 7-3, we take a look back at the unappreciated yet storied history of Pakistan-India finals:
1985 Bensons & Hedges World Championship
The tournament was perhaps the earliest version of what is now known as the Champions Trophy. Contested by all the test playing nations at the time and none of what would today be called ‘associate’ nations, the tournament was a one off and not considered to be an official World Cup. Coming fresh from their sensational performance in the 1983 World Cup and upset victory over the West Indies in the tournament final, India were at the top of their game when they met Pakistan in the final. The game ended in a comprehensive 8 wicket win for India in the final to crown them winners of the B&H World Champions.
1986 Austral Asia Cup (Sharjah)
This was the infamous match memories of which have been seared into the hearts and minds of Pakistani cricket fans and grainy video footage of which has become a part of mainstream pop-culture in the country. Having eliminated the mighty Aussies (who would go on to win the world cup at the subcontinent the very next year) from the tournament held in Sharjah, Pakistan and India faced off in the final of the 1986 Austral Asia Cup. And while India seemed poised for victory with Pakistani wickets collapsing everywhere, the Javed Miandad stood tall despite huis stature to give the Pakistani nation this magical moment, and Chetan Sharma nightmares:
1991 Wills Trophy
Another tri-nation tournament held at Sharjah, Pakistan once again continued their domination of India in the UAE winning an easy victory of 72 runs against their arch rivals in the final game to lift the trophy being sought by both India and the then still strong West Indies Cricket team. Aqib Javed was the hero of the final game picking up a stunning 7/37 in his 10 overs to completely route the Indian batting line-up.
1994 Pepsi Austral Asia Cup
This intercontinental championship too proved to be another occasion where the two asian giants nudged out Australia and set up a hotly contested final between the two. Pakistan won their third final against India in a row in the 1994 tournament, winning by 39 runs after finishing India off for 211 in comparison to their 250 in the designated overs. Aamer Sohail was the man of the match for Pakistan scoring a brisk 69 at the top of the order and picking up a couple of crucial wickets.
1998 Silver Jubilee Independence Cup
One of India’s most infamous wins over Pakistan, the tournament had been held to mark 25 years of Bangaldesh’s independence. And while Bangladesh was not anywhere near the final given their still young cricketing team, India did manage to defeat Pakistan by 8 wickets courtesy a classic Sachin almost-hundred, and break the spell 
1999- Pepsi Cup & 199 Coca Cola Cup
Pakistan once again went back to their winning ways in the 1999 Pepsi Cup final where the two teams had beaten defending World Champions Sri Lanka to reach the final. In the final Wasim Akram’s men made a comprehensive win against India by a margin of 123 runs. Inzama top scored with a handsome 91 giving Pakistan the edge to go over the line.
The only difference in the Coca Cola cup of the same year was that the venue had shifted to Sharjah from Bangalore and Pakistan took full advantage of a ground that has brought them much success. India did not put up much of a fight and were bundled up for 125 allowing Pakistan to score an easy victory of 8 wickets.
2007 World T20
One of the most painful memories still fresh in the minds of Pakistani fans after 10 years has to be that of Misbah ul Haq kneeling on the pitch headn hanging in dejection as the Indian Cricket team celebrated around him. Pakistan looked poised to loose the game until Misbah lead a resurgence that gave hope to the entire country. And just as he was about to pull something magical off, the most disastrous possible thing happened:
2008 Kitply Cup, Final
Another tri-nation tournament, Pakistan managed to win this one soon after the devastating events of the 2007 World T20 final defeat. And while it did do some healing, the team will really be looking towards possible retribution now, 10 years down the line from that fateful day in Johannesburg.
